Radiator testing and repair apparatus



May 23, 1939. c. r. WALKER RADIATOR TESTING AND REPAIR APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Samm " c. T. WALKER 2,159,063

Filed Aug. 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 23, 1939.

RADIATOR TESTING AND REPAIR APPARATUS w w w a m a M a M r a M 4 MW 1 WERAQANN M M 7\\\ ml-l e w m W /Y zw wwvvvvvvvvvvvg a, T I! 0 4 w 4. p. 6 9 a p .i J Wm WM Q g n! 1 9 5 L 0 3 a n J my. o {v u w M. a w ma M w 4, 25 5 a? A w w m K 2 a Patented May 23, 1939 UN [TED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.1594163 airmen iijsTING AND REPAIR. APPARATUS Clyde T. Walker, Orlando, Fla. Application August 5, 1937, Serial No. 151,602

4 Claims.

inventidn relates" to anapparatus' 'for testing and repairing leaks inradiators.

Th e of this invention is to provide means for supporting a radiator so that it can be filled with air and submerged to disclose Iaks. M Another object of the invention is to provide means to lidld the radiator in an upright positioii elevated above the water so that any solder which may be dropped will fall into the water 10 from wh e're it can be reclaimed and reused.

7 A further object of the invention is to provide a piston operated by eompre'ssed air and operably connected by levers to the supporting means P, for the radiator whereby the radiator can be raised or submerged. p I

Other objeet's and advantages of the invention will Hereinafter bcome' nfiore fully apparent from thevfollowing specification of which the drawings form a part, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2' 2 of Figure 1, g

Figure 3 is across sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the cylinder containing the reciprocating piston shown in elevation, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the valve controlling the air supply.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts in the different views, designates generally a table provided with a receptacle or container H for water.

A frame l2 comprising a rectangular member |3 supported by the members l4 and I which are connected to the crossbar [6 having downturned ends |1 secured in pipes I8 is mounted above the container A rack or tray I9 is mounted crosswise on member l3. Pipes |8 are slidably mounted in sleeves secured to the frame of table II) surrounding container II by straps 2|. The lower ends of pipes |8 are provided with forked sockets 22 in which are mount- A piston 33 slidably mounted in cylinder 29 is provided with a piston rod 34 extending through plate 21 and bottom 3| and having an enlarged disk like end 35. Levers 36 are pivotally supported by axles 31 journaled in sides 28. The adjacent ends of levers 36 are provided with rollers 39 to engage the disk 35, and the rollers 23 of pipes l8 engage adjacent the opposite end of levers 36 as best seen in Figure 3. Piston 33 is normally urged upward by coil springs 39 connected to levers 36.

A pipe 40 connected to the top 30 extends lengthwise of container I, then across and up the side of table II! to connect with a valve casing 4|. As best seen in Figure 5 casing 4| has one opening at its top, and two at the bottom which communicate with pipes 42 and 43 secured to sleeve 44 in which the tubulardepending portier: of casing 4| is mounted. A valve 45 provided with a tapered opening 46 and controlled O by a handle 41 selectively controls pipes 40, 42 and 43. Pipe 42 is an exhaust pipe, and pipe 43 leads to a tank of compressed air, (not shown). In pipe 43 is a needle valve 48.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, a pipe 49 is vided with an outlet 52 controlled by a valve 53. 0

Valve 54 mounted in pipe 49 beneath outlets 58 and 52 controls the supply of air passing through pipe 49,

A brace 55 is pivotally connected at 56 to member I8 to support a radiator, shown in dotted lines at 51, in .an upright position, for repairing when the radiator 51 is not long enough to lean against member l6, or if it is desired to lay radiator 51 on its side. For such use brace 55 is swung to the dotted line position of Figure 2, in which position it rests against members I5, which extend almost vertically for this purpose. For testing, radiator 51 lays flat on rack l9.

Table III is provided at one end with a work shelf 58 which may be used to hold tools or the like.

Cylinder 29 is partially filled with oil as indicated at 59 in Fi ure 4.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when air under pressure is admitted to cylinder 29 by opening valve 48 and moving handle 41 to the position shown in Figure 5, air will pass through pipes 43 and 48 to cylinder 29 to depress piston 33 to operate levers 36 to raise pipes l8 and frame |2. With frame |2 in a, raised position radiator 51 is laid flat on rack I9. All but one of the openings in radiator 51 is then plugged, and hose 5| is attached to this opening. With valve 53 closed valve 54 is then opened admitting air from pipe through pipe 49 and hose 5| to radiator 51. When sufficient pressure is obtained valve 54 is closed. Handle 41 is next moved upwardly so opening 46 will communicate with exhaust pipe 42 to allow the'air in cylinder 29 to be exhausted. As this occurs, the weight of radiator 51 will cause frame [2 to move downwardly from the position shown in Figure 1 to its position in Figure 3, with pipes I8 depressing the outer ends of levers 36 to raise piston 33. In its lowered position radiator 51 is submerged so that bubbles will disclose the leaks in the radiator. By applying pressure as heretofore explained to cylinder 29 frame I2 can again be raised and radiator 41 set upright for repair. In this position any solder that may drop will fall into the water in container II from where it can be recovered and reused.

It is to be understood that only the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, the right being reserved to make such changes as will not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a radiator testing and repair apparatus, a water container, a supporting member disposed above said container and having depending ends, a reciprocating piston disposed beneath said container, operating means for said piston, levers pivotally mounted adjacent said piston and having their adjacent ends engageable therewith and operable thereby, the opposite ends of said levers being connected to the depending ends of said supporting member to raise and lower it when the piston is operated, a frame having upwardly extending arms secured to the supporting member and vertically movable relatively to said container thereby to submerge or raise a radiator supported by the frame, and means to supply air under pressure to said radiator to detect leaks therein when submerged.

2. In a radiator testing and repair apparatus, a Water container, a supporting member disposed above said container and having depending ends, a reciprocating piston disposed beneath said container, operating means for said piston, levers pivotally mounted adjacent said piston and having their adjacent ends engageable therewith and operable thereby, the opposite ends of said levers being connected to the depending ends of said supporting member to raise and lower it when the piston is operated, a frame having upwardly extending arms secured to the supporting member and vertically movable relatively to said container thereby to submerge or raise a radiator supported by the frame, means to supply air under pressure to said radiator to detect leaks therein when submerged, and a tray slidably mounted on said frame and adapted to support radiators of various sizes in the container, said supporting member cooperating with the tray to support a radiator in an upright position for repair.

-3. A device as in claim 2, and means pivotally connected to said supporting member and engaging certain of said upwardly extending arms and adapted to support small size radiators in an upright position.

4. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to contain water, a rod disposed longitudinally of and above said receptacle having depending arms adapted to be slidably mounted in sleeve members secured adjacent the opposite ends of the receptacle, a piston mounted centrally of and beneath the receptacle, operating means to project said piston downwardly,

levers pivotally mounted adjacent said piston CLYDE T. WALKER. 

